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Indians Open Season With Tough Loss To DePere
 ESCANABA---The Gladstone Indians opened the American Legion baseball season with a tough 5-4 loss to the DePere Pioneers out of the Green Bay area Thursday night at the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament in Escanaba. The Indians jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Carson Shea led off with a single and rode home on a long two-run homer to right field by Dan Martin.  Two free passes, and a dropped fly ball in center field, loaded the baes for DePere. After a fielders choice grounder brought one run home, Jackson wall and Brett Bradison both had two-out run-scoring hits, and the game was tied at 3-3. The Indians regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Parker Frappier used his speed to beat out an infield hit and was bunted to second by Ian Schwalbach He went to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on another wild pitch, giving Gladstone a 4-3 lead. It didn’t last. In the bottom of the inning Zach Ziesmer and Wall led off with back-to-back base hits. Rogers was able to get the next two outs, but Collin Litts came through with the two-out single to tie the game at 4-4. Gladstone had a shot in the top of the sixth when Caden Alworden was hit by a pitch to start the inning. But Cody Frappier hit into a 6-4-3 double play, and then sure enough, the next two men reached base as Ben Kelly drew a walk and Parker Frappier got his second straight hit.  In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Blum put down a nice bunt for a single to lead off the inning. Blum then stole second and went to third on a fly ball. The Indians brought in the infield, and Rogers threw a wild pitch, bringing home what turned out to be DePere’s winning run. Rogers took the loss, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs (three earned) with three walks. Carson Shea pitched the final 2/3 innings in relief, getting two strikeouts. Blum got the win for DePere, throwing 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk. Ben Cherney came on to pitch after Cooper Cavadeas got a one-out single in the seventh inning for Gladstone, and he needed just two pitches to get a pop up and fly out. Gladstone will be back in action Friday with two games, this time in Gladstone, against Marquette at 4:30 and Kimberly at 7:00. Both games will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Nate Belleville.
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